Nickname:Rockets was chosen in a contest due to San Diego's motto, "A City in Motion" in addition
it was the manufacturing site of the Atlas rockets, used by
NASA, it kept the name upon moving to Houston since the city is NASA's headquarters.

Coach: Mike D'Antoni 2016/17-
Arena: Toyota Center 2003/04-

Historical Moments:

1971/72: The NBA finally came to the Lone Star State as the Rockets landed in Houston from
San Diego. Since Houston is the headquarters of NASA the name Rockets was a natural
fit and remained with the team. Elvin Hayes who was the star of the Rockets
had been a hero at the University of Houston as the Cougars routinely sold out
the Astrodome to see the "Big E" play, including a 1968 upset win over UCLA.
However, the Rockets had trouble drawing fans as they struggled from the start
losing their first six games. The Rockets would average only 4,9666 fans per game
as they played all over Texas posting a record of 34-48.
1972/73: Prior to the start of their second season in Houston the Rockets trade Elvin Hayes
to the Baltimore Bullets for Jack Marin and future considerations. Now playing
in the Central Division in the Eastern Conference the Rockets continued to sputter
posting a record of 33-49, despite strong seasons from Rudy Tomjanovich,
Jack Marin and Mike Newlin.
1973/74: After playing several games in San Antonio the previous season and rolling through
Texas in their first the Rockets stay put in Houston all season as Rudy Tomjanovich
and Calvin Murphy each average more then 20 points per game. However, the
Rockets would continue to struggle finishing in third place with a record of
32-50.
1974/75: The Rockets begin to show some progress as they get off to a 10-5 start fueled by
the amazing play making ability of Calvin Murphy and shooting of Rudy Tomjanovich
on the way to making the playoffs for the first time since moving to Houston
with a record of 41-41. In the playoffs the Rockets would prove they are for
real as they stun the New York Knicks in a three game series. However in the second
round the Rockets would be overwhelmed by the Boston Celtics in five games.

1975/76: After finally starting to get fans attention and selling out the Hofheinz Pavilion
the Rockets move into a new arena called the Summit. After losing their first
three games on the road the Rockets inaugurated the Summit in style by beating
the Milwaukee Bucks 104-89 on November 2nd. However, the Rockets would fall short
of a return to the playoff as they finished in third place with a mediocre
record of 40-42.
1976/77: At the insistence of new Coach Tom Nisslake the Rockets acquire former ABA star Moses
Malone from the Buffalo Braves in an early season trade for draft picks on
October 24th. The trade would make the Rockets a serious contender as Moses averaged
13.2 ppg and 13.1 rebounds per game including a league high 437 offensive
rebounds as the Rockets lifted off to the top of the Central Division with a
solid 49-33 record. After a first round bye the Rockets would fly past the Houston
Rockets would blast past the Washington Bullets in 6 games, rallying to win
three straight after falling behind two games to one. In the Eastern Conference
Finals the Rockets would fall behind right away as they lost the first two games
on the road to the Philadelphia 76ers. After winning Game 3 the Rockets would
fall behind three games to one. Facing elimination the Rockets would pull out
a dramatic 118-115 win to keep their hopes alive. However, in Game 6 at The Summit
John Lucas is hit with a controversial charging call in the final seconds
as the Rockets season ends with a 112-109 loss.
1977/78: Coming off their trip to the Eastern Conference Finals the Rockets would get off
to a slow start as they lost 12 of their first 18 games. However by December 9th
the Rockets appeared to have righted their course as they won three of four games
heading into a match up with the Lakers in Los Angeles. The season for the
Rockets would turn that night as a fight broke out between Lakers star Kareem
Abdul-Jabbar and Rockets big man Kevin Kunnert. During the fight Rudy Tomjanovich
would run to even the fight after Kermit Washington joined the scrum. However
Washington saw Tomjanovich coming and threw a devastating punch to a defenseless
Tomjanovich shattering his face and breaking his jaw. Had the punch been any
harder Rudy Tomjanovich would have died. An unapologetic Kermit Washington would
receive a NBA record suspension of 25 games. However, Rudy T would not play
again that season as the Rockets struggled without their leading scorer finishing
in last place with a 28-54 record.
1978/79: Moses Malone comes of age averaging 24.8 ppg while capturing a league high 17.6 rebounds
a game to capture the NBA MVP as the Rockets rebound off a last place season
to finish in second place with a solid 47-35 record that saw them finish
just one game behind the Central Division Champion San Antonio Spurs. Also coming
back was Rudy Tomjanovich who averaged 19.0 ppg in 74 games after his deviating
facial injuries. However in the playoff the Rockets would falter as they lost
2 straight to the Atlanta Hawks.
1979/80: Moses Malone continued to dominate the middle averaging 25.8 ppg while averaging
14.5 rebounds. However the Rockets would play mediocre basketball all season posting
a record of 41-41. Despite their less the stellar record the Rockets would
make it into the playoffs where they beat their instate rival San Antonio Spurs
in a three game series. However, in the second round the Rockets would be overmatched
by the Boston Celtics who swept them in four straight games.
1980/81: With a 3rd Texas team joining the NBA as an expansion team the Rockets are moved
into the Western Conference's Midwestern Division. In the West Moses Malone continued
to lead the way for the Rockets finishing second in the league in scoring
with 27.8 ppg and first in rebounding with 14.8 rpg. However, the Rockets would
play mediocre basketball all season as the barley sneaked into the playoffs
as the sixth seed with a mediocre record of 40-42. In the playoffs the Rockets
would draw the defending Champion Los Angeles Lakers after winning Game 1 on the
road the Rockets appeared to have let the possibility of an upset slip through
their fingers as they lost Game 2 at home 111-106. However, the Rockets would
turn up the defensive pressure in Game 3 as they stunned the Lakers 89-86 to move
on to the second round. In the second round the Rockets continued to be road
warriors as they beat the San Antonio Spurs in a hard fought seven game series
winning three of four games played in San Antonio to reach the Western Conference
Finals. In the Western Finals the Rockets would split the first two games
on the road against the Kansas City Kings before winning two straight games at
The Summit to grab a 3-1 series lead. In Game 5 the Rockets defense turned up the
pressure again as the Rockets advanced to the NBA Finals with a 97-88 win. Facing
the Boston Celtics who had swept them in the playoffs a year earlier the
Rockets actually had surprised most experts by splitting the first four games.
However, the Celtics talent would take over to win the NBA Championship in six
games.
1981/82: Coming off a trip to the NBA Finals Moses Malone has his finest season averaging
31.1 ppg and 14.7 rpg on the way to another MVP award as the Rockets finished in
third place with a record of 46-36, finishing just two games out of first place.
However, their would be no playoff charge this time around as the Rockets were
beaten by the Seattle Supersonics in a three game series. Following the season
Moses Malone would sign an unprecedented $13.2 million contract with the Philadelphia
76ers. Though the Rockets matched the offer they could not afford to
pay that amount so Moses Malone was traded to the 76ers for Caldwell Jones and
a first-round draft choice.1982/83: While Moses Malone was winning his second straight MVP and leading the Philadelphia
76ers to a NBA Championship the Rockets plummet to earth crashing into last
place with a franchise worst record of 14-68 just two years after they had made
it to the NBA Finals.
1983/84: With the top overall pick in the NBA Draft the Rockets would select 7'4" Center Ralph
Sampson from University of Virginia. Sampson would have an immediate impact
averaging 22.1 ppg and 10.4 rpg on the way to capturing the Rookie of the Year
award as the Rockets doubled their win total finishing in last place with a 29-53
record.
1984/85: For the second straight season the Rockets would use the top overall pick on a 7-foot
Center this time selecting Hakeem Olajuwon, who was part of the fraternity
"Phi Slamma Jamma" that had led the University of Houston to three straight Final
Four Appearances. Olajuwon then known as Akeem, had a solid rookie season as
he and both Ralph Sampson were dubbed the Twin Towers, while each averaged more
then 20 points and 10 rebounds per game, as Olajuwon finished second in Rookie
of the Year balloting to Michael Jordan, as the Rockets made it back into the
playoffs with a 48-34 record. However, in the playoffs the young Rockets would
sputter losing a five game series to the Utah Jazz.
1985/86: Hakeem Olajuwon and Ralph Sampson continued to tower of the Western Conference as
they led the Rockets to the Division title with a solid record of 51-31. Despite
Guard John Lucas being suspended for the playoffs for failing a drug test the
Rockets hit their stride in the playoffs sweeping the Sacramento Kings in three
straight games. After splitting the first four games against the Denver Nuggets
the Rockets blast their way on to the Western Conference Finals in six games
for a match up with Los Angeles Lakers. With the Boston Celtics dominating in
the East everyone anticipated a third straight NBA Finals match up between the
Lakers and Celtics. However, the Rockets would spoil the rematch by stunning the
Lakers in five games, winning the fifth game on an awkward turnaround jumper
by Ralph Sampson at the buzzer in Los Angeles. After being blown out by the Celtics
in the first two games on the road the Rockets pulled out a nail bitter 106-104.
to keep their Championship hopes alive. However, the Celtics would take
a 3-1 series lead with a three point win in Game 4. After staving off elimination
at home in Game 5, the Rockets are blown out 114-97 in Game 6 as the Boston
Celtics completed a record breaking season in which they lost just one game at
home on the way to their 16th Championship.
1986/87: After making it to the NBA Finals the Rockets self destructed as their three guards
John Lucas, Lewis Lloyd, and Mitchell Wiggins were suspended for substance abuse
problems. With Ralph Sampson being limited to just 43 games Hakeem Olajuwon
becomes the leader of the team averaging 23.4 ppg as the Rockets finished in
third place with a mediocre 42-40 record. In the playoffs the Rockets would blast
past the Portland Trail Blazers in four games before being knocked off by the
Seattle Supersonics in six games.
1987/88: Hakeem Olajuwon would become the lone force in the middle of the Rockets as Ralph
Sampson is traded early in the season along with Steve Harris to the Golden State
Warriors for Eric "Sleepy" Floyd and Joe Barry Carroll after troubles with
Coach Bill Fitch boiled over. Fitch had stated the trade would make the Rockets
a better team then the one that went to the Finals two years earlier. The Rockets
would go on to finish with a 46-36 record before crashing in the first round
of the playoffs in four games against the Dallas Mavericks, as Coach Bill Fitch
is fired and replaced by Don Chaney following the season.
1988/89: The Rockets continued to retool as they traded Joe Barry Carroll and Lester Connerto
the New Jersey Nets for Tim McCormick and Frank Johnson. In addition they would
deal Rodney McCray and Jim Petersen to the Sacramento Kings for Otis Thorpe.
The Thorpe trade would pay dividends right away as he averaged 16.7ppg as the
Rockets finished in second place with a 45-37 record. However, the Rockets would
fail in the playoffs again as they are beaten by the Seattle Supersonics in
four games.
1989/90: The Rockets would sputter at the start of the season posting 12-18 records as they
entered the New Year. However, the New Year would be a new start for the Rockets
who battled their way back to .500 to make it into the playoffs as the eighth
seed with a 41-41 record. However, in the playoffs it would be another quick
exit as the Rockets are beaten by the Los Angeles Lakers in four games.
1990/91: Despite losing Hakeem Olajuwon for 25 games due to injury the Rockets show marked
improvement finishing in third place with a solid 52-30 record, as Kenny Smith
provided a spark averaging 17.7 ppg. However despite a fully healthy team the
Rockets would fail in the playoffs again as they are swept in three straight games
by the Los Angeles Lakers.
1991/92: The Rockets would get off to a fast start winning eight of their first 10 games.
However, the Rockets would start to struggle and by February 21st were hovering
at .500 with a 27-27 record when Coach Don Chaney is fired and replaced by Rudy
Tomjanovich. Under Rudy T the Rockets seemed revitalized as they won 11 of their
first 15 games. However, down the stretch the Rockets struggled losing ten
of their last 15 including three straight games to close the season with a disappointing
42-40 record that saw them miss the playoff by one game, as dispute between
Hakeem Olajuwon and Rockets management seemed to distract the entire team.
1992/93: The Rockets start the season with two straight losses facing the Seattle Supersonics
in Japan. On the flight home the Rockets would finally resolve their problems
with Hakeem Olajuwon. Now refocused and without distraction the Rockets were
able to lift themselves to a division title with a solid 55-27 record, as Olajuwon
had a career season with 26.1 ppg, as he won Defensive player of the Year
honors with an incredible 4.17 blocks per game. In the playoffs the Rockets were
pushed to the limit in the first round as they needed an 84-80 win at The Summit
in Game 5 to knock off the Los Angeles Clippers. Despite winning the Midwest
Division the Rockets would not have home court advantage in the second round
as they faced the Seattle Supersonics, because under the NBA playoff format home
court is awarded to the team with the better record in the second round something
the Sonics achieved by a head-to-head tiebreaker. It would end up being
key as the home team won all seven games with Rockets hopes ending with a 123-110
overtime loss in Game 7 at Seattle.
1993/94: The Rockets lifted off into the stratosphere right away winning their first 15 games
to set a NBA record for wins to start the season. After climbing to 22-1 the
Rockets would naturally come back to earth a little bit as they finished in first
place with a terrific 58-24 record, as Hakeem Olajuwon won the Defensive Player
of the Year with 11.9 rebounds per game, while also claiming the MVP with
27.3 ppg. In the playoffs the Rockets would quickly fly past the Portland Trail
Blazers in four games. However, in the second round it appeared as if the Rockets
were heading for disappointment again as they lost the first 2 games at home
to the Phoenix Suns, blowing a 20-point lead in the 4th quarter of Game 2 after
seeing an 18-point lead melt away in Game 1. After Rockets and Oilers
playoff disappointments some one cracked that Houston was "Choke City." In Game
3 the Rockets appeared to be heading for a four game exit as they trailed at
halftime by nine points. However, Vernon Maxwell led the way with 31-second half
points as the Rockets came roaring back to win 118-102. The Rockets would go
on to grab Game 4 to even the series and Game 5 at home to take control. After
losing Game 6 in Phoenix, Houston churned the choke moniker into clutch moniker
by beating the Suns 104-94 to advance to the Western Finals. In the Western Finals
the Rockets made the most of their new-found life by dominating the Utah Jazz
in five games. In the NBA Finals the Rockets were matched up against the New
York Knicks as Hakeem Olajuwon and Patrick Ewing met in a battle of premier centers.
After splitting two physical battles in Houston the Rockets took a Game
3 as Sam Cassell hit a clutch three pointer in the final minutes. After losing
the next two games, the Rockets faced elimination with Game 6 at The Summit. Trailing
most of Game 6 the Rockets rallied to win Game 6 and force a decisive seventh
game as a potential Game winning three point shot by John Starks was blocked
by Olajuwon at the buzzer to win 86-84. In Game 7 the Rockets controlled from
the start holding off every Knicks rally as Hakeem Olajuwon scored 25 points
en route to winning NBA Finals MVP honors as the Rockets captured the NBA Championship
with a 90-84 win turning Houston form "Choke City" to 'Clutch City."
1994/95: After winning the NBA Title the Rockets again blasted off at the start of the season
winning their first nine games. However with increased competition in the West,
management felt a change was needed to win the title again so they traded
Otis Thorpe, who had been such a valuable inside force to the Portland Trailblazers
for former "Phil Slamma Jamma" star Clyde Drexler. However, the trade appeared
to have backfired on the Rockets as they play mediocre basketball in the second
half posting a 17-18 record after the trade on the way to finishing in third
place with a 47-35 record. Making matters worse injuries to Carl Herrera, forced
him to miss most of the season's second half, including the playoffs, and
a frustrated Vernon Maxwell leaving the team due to lack of playing time left
the Rockets without 2 key players heading into the postseason. In the playoffs
the Rockets faced elimination right away, as they needed to win Game 4 at home
just to set up a decisive fifth game on the road against the Utah Jazz. In Game
5 it appeared as if the Rockets Championship reign had run it course as they trailed
by 12 points in the 3rd Quarter. However, behind 33 points from Hakeem Olajuwon
the Rockets would advance with a 95-91 win. Facing he Phoenix Suns in the
2nd Round the Rockets appeared doomed again as they fell behind three games
to one. However, the Rockets were not ready to give up as they won Game 5 in overtime
on the clutch shooting of Robert Horry. After a solid 116-103 win in Game
6 at The Summit the Rockets overcame a ten point deficit to bet the Suns 113-110
in Phoenix on a Game winning three point shot by Mario Ellie with 7.1 seconds
left. After again rallying past the Phoenix Suns the Rockets, Championship dreams
were alive and well as they faced the San Antonio Spurs in an all Texas Western
Conference Finals. The Rockets continued their momentum by taking the first
two games on the road. However, upon arriving back in Houston the Rockets would
struggle as the Spurs won both games at The Summit to even the series at two
games apiece. However, back in San Antonio for Game 5 the Rockets took control
back by winning 111-90 as Hakeem Olajuwon scored 42 points. Olajuwon would again
rise to the occasion by scoring 39 points and pulling down 17 rebounds as
the Rockets made it back to the NBA Finals with a 100-95 win. In the NBA Finals
the Rockets were again underdogs as they faced the Orlando Magic. In Game 1 in
Orlando the Rockets rallied to force overtime on Kenny Smiths clutch three point
shot, after Magic star Nick Anderson missed two free throws that would
have iced the game. With the score tied at 118 late on overtime Hakeem Olajuwon
tipped in a Clyde Drexler miss to deliver the Rockets a victory in Game 1.
The Rockets would grab a 2-0 series lead as Olajuwon and Sam Cassell each topped
30 points in Game 2. As the series shifted to Houston the Magic crumbled
as the Rockets completed the sweep with two impressive wins to capture their 2nd
straight NBA Championship as Hakeem Olajuwon won his second straight Finals MVP
award.
1995/96: After two straight NBA Championship the Rockets got new colors, uniforms, and a new
logo which was actually unveiled aboard the Space Shuttle. Injuries would be
an issue all year for the Rockets who finished in 3rd place again with a 48-34
record. In the playoffs the Rockets appeared ready for another run as they blasted
past the Los Angels Lakers in four games. However, in the second round the
Rockets would run out of fuel as they were swept by the Seattle Supersonics in
four straight games.
1996/97: After failing to win a third straight Championship the Rockets took a big step towards
returning to the top by acquiring Charles Barkley from the Phoenix Suns for
Sam Cassell, Chucky Brown, Mark Bryant and Robert Horry. Together with Hakeem
Olajuwon and Clyde Drexler the Rockets now had three of the 50 Greatest players
on their team as they got off to a solid 6-0 start, on the way to finishing
in second place with a solid record of 57-25. In the playoffs the Rockets blasted
off right away as they swept the Minnesota Timberwolves in three straight games.
In the second round the Rockets jumped out to a 3-1 series lead over the Seattle
Supersonics, but had to hold on to win in seven games 96-91. In the Western
Finals the Rockets found their backs to the wall right away as they dropped
the first two games on the road to the Utah Jazz. However, upon arriving back
at The Summit the Rockets rallied winning Game 3 by eight points and tying the
series in Game 4 on a dramatic a Game winning shot by Eddie Johnson at the buzzer.
After losing Game 5 in Utah 96-91, the Rockets needed another clutch performance
at home to force a seventh game. However, with the game 100-100 in the final
second Jazz guard John Stockton would nail a three point shot at the buzzer
to end the Rockets Championship hopes. 1997/98: The Rockets began to show their age and the wear and tear of long playoff runs as
they played mediocre basketball all season on the way to finishing in 4th place
with a 41-41 record. Despite being the eighth seed in the playoffs the Rockets
still had to be considered a legitimate playoff threat as they jumped out a 2-1
series lead over the Utah Jazz. However, the Jazz would recover to blow the
Rockets out in the final two games to take the series in five games. Following
the season Clyde Drexler would retire to take over the head-coaching job at the
University of Houston.
1998/99: To replace the retiring Clyde Drexler the Rockets would acquire Scottie Pippen from
the Chicago Bulls, as the season was delayed by a four month lockout. Pippen
would play solid basketball scoring 14.5 ppg as the Rockets finished in third
place with a 31-19 record. However in the playoffs the Rockets would make a quick
exit as they are beaten by the Los Angeles Lakers in four games. Despite the
solid season the Rockets would trade Pippen to the Portland Trailblazers for Walt
Williams, Stacey Augmon, Kelvin Cato, Ed Gray, Carlos Rogers and Brian Shaw.1999/00: Already announcing it would be his final season Charles Barkley suffered a knee injury
in December. In addition the Rockets would lose Hakeem Olajuwon to a variety
of injuries for half the season as they missed the playoffs for the first time
in eight years with a record of 34-48. However, not all was lost as Rookie
Steve Francis who was acquired from the Vancouver Grizzlies in a three team deal
after refusing to play for the team that draft him split Rookie of the Year honors
with Elton Brand of the Chicago Bulls with 18.0 ppg. In the final game of
the season Charles Barkley would return not wanting to have his career ended by
being carried off the court.
2000/01: Steve Francis continues to emerge as the new star of the Rockets averaging 19.9 ppg
as Hakeem Olajuwon continues to fade posting just 11.9 ppg while playing in
58 games as the Rockets miss the playoffs for the second straight season despite
a respectable record of 45-37. After the season the Rockets would make a hard
decision by dealing Hakeem Olajuwon to the Toronto Raptors in a sign and trade
deal.2001/02: With injuries limiting Steve Francis to 57 games the Rockets plummet finishing in
fourth place with a 28-54 record. Finishing with such a poor record enabled the
Rockets to have just enough lottery chances to get the number one overall pick
which they used on Chinese sensation Yao Ming.2002/03: Yao Ming the 7'5" Center for China became an instant sensation as he made started
in the Al-Star Game as the Rockets challenged for the playoffs all season. However,
with Coach Rudy Tomjanovich missing most of the final six weeks after cancer
surgery the Rockets and Yao Ming would hit a wall. Yao would still manage to
put up 13.5 ppg, but he would finish second to Amare Stoudemire in Rookie of
the Year voting as the Rockets finished one game behind Stoudimire's Phoenix Suns
for he final playoff spot with a 43-39 record. Despite falling short of a return
to the playoffs the future could not be any brighter for the Rockets with
Steve Francis and Yao Ming forming the foundation of a team that enters a new state
of the art arena next season. Following the season Rudy Tomjanovich, would
step down as coach, after his battle with cancer left him exhausted.
2003/04: The Rockets started the season with new launching pad and new uniforms as they returned
to their traditional red color scheme complete with a space aged logo. The
Rockets led by new Coach Jeff Van Gundy would start the season by wining their
first game at the Toyota Center against the Denver Nuggets 102-85. The
new home seemed to reenergize the Rockets who won five of their first six games.
With Yao Ming leading the way with 17.5 ppg and nine rebounds per game the Rockets
would blast their way into the playoffs for the first time in five years
finishing in fifth place with a 45-37 record. However, in the playoffs the inexperienced
Rockets would struggle against the playoff tested Los Angeles Lakers
losing in five games as the match up between Yao Ming and Shaquille O'Neal ended
up being a mismatch as Yao struggled in his first playoff series. Following
the season the Rockets would complete one of the biggest blockbuster trades in
NBA history trading Steve Francis along with Cutttino Mobley and Kevin Cato to
the Orlando Magic for two time NBA leading scorer Tracy McGrady, Juwan Howard,
Tyronn Lue, and Reece Gaines.
2004/05: Hoping their new acquisitions would help Yao Ming the Rockets sputtered at the start
posting a 6-10 record in November, as Yao struggled early. The Rockets would
get back to .500 by the end of December and by the time the New Year started
they were becoming the force many predicted as Tracy McGrady averaged 25.7 ppg.
Down the stretch the Rockets would get stronger as the climbed up to third Place
in the tough Southwest Division finishing with a solid 51-31 record, and earning
a first round playoff showdown with the Dallas Mavericks. In the playoffs
the Rockets started off fast taking the first two games in Dallas. However, in
Game 3 at home the Rockets blew a 4th Quarter lead allowing the Mavericks a 20-0
run as they lost 106-102. The Rockets would also lose Game 4 at home and Game
5 on the road and would face elimination in Game 6, where Tracy McGrady put up
37 points as the Rockets won 101-83. However, in Game 7 the Rockets barely put
up any effort losing by 40 points as they fell in the first round for the second
year in a row.
2005/06: With a revamped roster that included Stromile Swift acquired via free agency and
Rafer Alston acquired in a trade with the Toronto Raptors the Rockets hoped they
could blast past the first round in the playoffs. However, injuries would interfere
with the team all season, as a nagging back limited Tracy McGrady to 47
games while a foot infection forced Yao Ming to miss 25 games. The McGrady injuries
clearly hurt the Rockets more as they posted a horrible 7-28 record in the
games he missed, many of which came in November when the Rockets failed to launch
in the first month of the season with a terrible 3-11 record through their
first 14 games. When McGrady and Ming were both playing in December the Rockets
won five games in a row, but when Yao Ming left to take care of an infected toe
the Rockets fizzled again as they ended the month on a five game losing streak,
that continued into January when they won just five of 16 games. With both their
top stars in the line up in February the Rockets again flourished as they
posted a 14-4 record over a 18-game stretch, but T-Mac's back acted up again and
the Rockets would be unable to lift themselves out of last place as they ended
the season with a disappointing record of 34-48.
2006/07: With the hopes of getting back into the playoffs the Rockets acquired Shane Battier
in a trade with the Memphis Grizzlies, while signing Bonzi Wells. While the
trade helped make the Rockets deeper and more balanced, their two key players Yao
Ming and Tracy McGrady continued to deal with injuries as a sore back hampered
Tracy McGrady early in the season, while Yao Ming who was off to the best start
of his career before suffering a fractured fibula. The injury to Ming came
just as the Superstar from China was heating up with six straight 30-point games.
Fortunately for the Rockets when Yao Ming went down on December 22nd, McGrady
was getting over his injury, and they were able to stay in strong playoff position
while their center missed 32 games. When Yao Ming returned on March 6th the
Rockets were comfortably in playoff position, as they went on to finish with
a record of 52-30 earning home court in the first round of the playoffs. Facing
the Utah Jazz the Rockets would get off to a fast start in the playoffs winning
their first two games at home easily. However, as the series shifted to Utah
the Jazz clawed their way back into the series holding the Rockets to 67 points
in Game 3 as they won 81-67. After the Jazz evened the series with a 98-85 win
in Game 4 the Rockets hoped a return to Houston would give them the lift they
needed. With Tracy McGrady scoring 26 points with a playoff career high 16 assists,
the Rockets were able to rally to retake the series lead with a 96-92 victory.
However, once again they were stymied in Utah as the Jazz sent the series
to a decisive seventh game with a 94-82 victory in Game 6. With Game 7 in the
Toyota Center, the Rockets fully expected to launch their way into the second round,
as the series' first six games were all won by the home team. However, a
big game from Carlos Boozer would shot down the Rockets hopes as the Jazz stunned
the Rockets 103-99, handing the Rockets their first ever Game 7 loss at home.
Following the game the disappointed Rockets would fire Coach Jeff Van Gundy.2007/08: With new Coach Rick Adelman, and the reacquisition of Steve Francis, there were high
hopes in Houston when the season began. Another player the Rockets added to
their arsenal was Luis Scola, a star player from the Argentine National Team.
In the early going the Rockets looked good as they won six of their first seven
games. However, a strained elbow from Tracy McGrady triggered a losing streak
as the Rockets lost six in a row, and ended 2007 with a losing record of 15-16.
In the Western Conference that was bad news, as several teams had jumped out to
good starts, and making the playoffs would take a strong effort after the New
Year. They began to play better in January, climbing back over .500. When the
month ended the Rockets were starting to get on a real roll, winning fiver of their
last six. The win to close the month on January 29th, would be the start of
something big, as the Rockets flew through the month of February without losing
a game. However, there was bad news on February 26th when All-Star Center Yao
Ming suffered a season ending foot injury. Despite the loss of Yao, the Rockets
continued their winning ways into March, winning an additional ten games in
a row to give themselves a 22-game winning streak that was the second longest in
NBA history. After dropping three of four games after the streak the Rockets
closed the season strong posting a solid 55-27 record , which was the third best
in the Western Conference. However, due to eight teams winning 50 or more games,
the Rockets were once again the fourth seed, and matched up against the Utah
Jazz. The Rockets sputtered in Game 1, losing at home 93-82. They would also
lost Game 2 at the Toyota Center, and faced going to Utah, where their postseason
fell apart in 2007, desperately needing a win in Game 3. Trailing entering the
fourth quarter the Rocket relied on their role players to keep their hopes alive
long enough for Tracy McGrady to take the game over, as the Rockets star ended
his fourth quarter slump, by scoring seven points in the final 3:29 to lead
the Rockets to a 94-92 win. The reprieve would only be short lived as the Jazz
handed the Rockets an 86-82 loss in Game 4, putting them on the brink of elimination.
The Rockets would hold their home court with a 95-69 win in Game 5. However,
it was not enough as they were eliminated in six games losing the finale
113-91, despite a 40-game from Tracy McGrady, who still had to deal with the talk
of him not reaching the second round in his illustrious career
2008/09: With the addition of Ron Artest, the Rockets entered the season with an improved
defense. Early on it paid off as the Rockets won 13 of their first 20 games. The
Rockets would play strong basketball all season, as they again battled the San
Antonio Spurs all season for first place in the Southwest Division. However,
midway through the season the Rockets path to the Western Conference elite seemed
to be in Jeopardy, as Tracy McGrady has season ending surgery on his left knee
on February 18th. Fortunately for the Rockets, Yao Ming who had been hampered
by injuries for the better part of three seasons was able to stay relatively
healthy all season, missing just five games during the regular season. The Rockets
would end the season as the fifth seed in the West, while missing out on the
division title by just one game with a record of 53-29. In the playoffs the Rockets
faced the young Portland Trail Blazers in the first round, and got an important
win in Game 1 on the road, as Aaron Brooks led the way with 27 points as
the Rockets won 108-81. After losing a close game in Game 2 the Rockets defense
led the way as they won the next two games at home to take a commanding three
games to one series lead. After an 88-77 loss in Game 5 the Rockets lifted off
into the second round of the playoffs for the first time in 12 years as Ron Artest
scored a game high 27 points as the Rockets earned a 92-76 win in Game 6.
However, in beating the Blazers the Rockets lost a valuable defense piece to their
puzzle when Dikembe Mutombo injured his knee, and retired from the NBA. In
the second round against the Los Angeles Lakers the Rockets again landed a big
blow in the opener winning Game 1 on the road 100-92, as Yao Ming led the way
with 28 points and 10 rebounds. However, the Lakers would battle back to win the
next two games, as Yao Ming suffered a foot injury that knocked him out of the
remainder of the playoffs. Despite the loss of Yao Ming the Rockets would even
the series with a 99-87 win in Game 4, as Aaron Brooks emerged as the Rockets
new leader with 34 points. After a blowout loss in Game 5, Brooks again led the
way with 26 points as the Rockets pushed the Lakers to a seventh game with a
95-80 win in Game 6. However, the Lakers proved to be too strong as the eliminated
the Rockets in seven games 89-70 on the way to winning the NBA Title.
2009/10: The foot injury that knocked Yao Ming out of the playoffs would require surgery that
would force him to sit out an entire season. The Rockets would sign Trevor
Ariza from the Los Angeles Lakers using an injury exemption to fit him under the
cap. In addition the health of Tracy McGrady continued to be a factor as the
season began for the Rockets. Despite the injuries troubles the Rockets played
well early in the season, holding a 20-13 record at the start of the New Year.
One reason behind the Rockets solid play as Aaron Brooks who continued to emerge
as the Rockets go to player, averaging 19.6 ppg as he would go on to be named
the NBA's Most Improved Player. As January arrived the Rockets began to sputter,
posting a 5-7 record. As their struggles continued into February the Rockets
became active at the trade deadline, acquiring Kevin Martin, Jordan Hill, Hilton
Armstrong, and Jared Jeffries in a three team deal that sent Tracy McGrady to
the New York Knicks, and Joey Dorsey and Carl Landry to the Sacramento Kings.
Martin would play well in Houston, but the Rockets would fall short of reaching
the playoffs as they posted a 42-40 record and finished in third place in the
competitive Southwest Division.2010/11: After a season of injury and frustration, the Rockets hoped to rebound and hoped
Yao Ming could return and be their force in the middle. Even as Yao was set to
comeback, the Rockets took measures just in case he was unable to get back to full
strength as they signed Brad Miller. The Rockets also landed Courtney Lake
in a four team five player deal that saw the Rockets send Trevor Ariza to the New
Orleans Hornets. The Rockets started the season on the road against the Los
Angeles Lakers, losing 112-110 as the Lakers ended the game on a 15-4 run, as Yao
Ming returned and logged more than 20 minutes before fouling out. After a loss
to the Golden State Warriors, the Rockets faced the Denver Nuggets in their
home opener, losing again despite a strong game from Luis Scola, as they dropped
their first five games. Things got even worse as Yao Ming was injured again after
just five games with a stress fracture in the ankle. This injury, which was
initially thought to be just a mild sprain, would end up being the end of the
road for Yao Ming who at 30 decided to retire following the season. After losing
Ming, the Rockets won a game, beating the Minnesota Timberwolves 120-94 to end
their losing streak. The Rockets would continue to struggle after beating the
Wolves as they ended November with a 5-12 record. The Rockets would turn things
around in December, winning 11 of 15 games to enter the New Year at .500 with
a record of 16-16. However, 2011 began the same as the season began with five
straight losses, as they dropped seven of eight on the way to posting a 6-11 record.
The Rockets would head into the All-Star Break with a record of 26-31. At
the trade deadline they would be one of the busiest teams, sending Shane Battier
to the Memphis Grizzlies for Hasheem Thabeet and a first round pick. They also
traded Aaron Brooks to the Phoenix Suns for Goran Dragic and a first round
pick. Thabeet, the second player chosen in the 2009 draft would play just two games
with the Rockets before being sent to the D-League to develop his game. After
the break, the Rockets would win 12 of 15 games to get back over .500 and into
the playoff race. However, it would not be enough as they missed the playoffs
for a second straight season, falling three games short with a record of 43-39,
as Coach Rick Adelman was replaced by Kevin McHale. 2011/12: With the official retirement of Yao Ming, it was time for the Rockets to turn the
page and focus on the future with new Coach Kevin McHale. The Rockets looked to
begin the rebuilding process on draft day as they selected Marcus Morris and
Nikola Mirotic in the first round, while trading Brad Miller, Mirotic, Chandler
Parsons and a future 1st round draft pick to the Minnesota Timberwolves for Jonny
Flynn, Donatas Motiejunas and a future 2nd round draft pick. The Rockets would
later send cash to reacquire Parsons, their second round pick. One player who
would get away was Jeremy Lin, who was claimed of waivers by the New York Knicks
just before the start of the season, which was delayed by a two month lockout.
Lin would become an overnight sensation, gracing the cover of Sports Illustrated
in two consecutive weeks. The Rockets would fizzle at the start of the season,
losing six of their first eight games, they would quickly turn things around
as they embarked on a seven game winning streak and were right in the thick
of the playoff race for the rest of the season. With the hopes of getting a veteran
for the final stretch, the Rockets sent Jordan Hill to the Los Angeles Lakers
for Derek Fisher, and a future first round draft pick but just as quickly
released Fisher when he refused to report to Houston. Despite the Fisher fiasco
the Rockets remained in the playoff chase and appeared to be in position to at
least grab the eighth seed as they held a record of 32-25 on April 8th. However,
the Rockets would suffer a six game losing streak, as they won just two of
their last nine games, as they fell short of the playoffs again despite finishing
with a winning record at 34-32. Following the season, the Rockets would not
pass up a second chance for Linsanity as they signed Jeremy Lin to a three year
$25 million deal that the Knicks were unable to match.2012/13: After a busy off-season, the Rockets continued to build the team right up to the
start of the season, as the acquired James Harden along with Cole Aldrich, Daequan
Cook, and Lazar Hayward from the Oklahoma City Thunder for Kevin Martin and
Jeremy Lamb and two future first-round picks. The move would pay off right away
as Harden scored a game high 37 points with 12 assists as the Rockets beat the
Detroit Pistons 105-96 to open the season four days later. Harden would do even
better in the Rockets second game, scoring 45 as they beat the Atlanta Hawks
109-102. Harden who was the sixth man in OKC, would become the Rockets leading
man with a career high 25.9 ppg. However, the Rockets would suffer a letdown in
their home opener, losing to the Portland Trail Blazers 95-85. November would
be a tough month for the Rockets as they posted a 6-8 record, while Coach Kevin
McHale spent most of the month at the bedside of his 23 year daughter Alexandra
"Sasha" McHale who died two days after Thanksgiving, losing a battle with lupus.
McHale would return in December, and the Rockets fortunes improved,
as they won seven of ten at home to go into the New Year above .500 at 17-14. However,
over the next two month the Rockets played mediocre basketball as they
remained on the playoff bubble. Looking for a boost the Rockets were active at
the trade deadline, picking up Thomas Robinson, Francisco García, and Tyler Honeycutt
in a trade with the Sacramento Kings that sent Patrick Patterson, Toney
Douglas, and Cole Aldrich the other way. The Rockets also dealt Marcus Morris to
the Phoenix Suns for a 2nd round draft pick, while bringing back Aaron Brooks
who had been waived by the Kings. The moves would help the Rockets to their best
month of the season at 9-5 during March, as they landed into the playoffs for
the first time in four years with a record of 45-37.
2013 Playoffs: In the playoffs the eighth seeded Rockets would face the Oklahoma City Thunder,
as James Harden looked to make his former team pay. However, in Game 1 the
Rockets were clearly overmatched losing 120-91. The Rockets would play a much
closer game in Game 2, but the result was the same as the Thunder held off a late
charge by the Rockets for a 105-102 win. As the series shifted to Houston,
the Thunder were without Russell Westbrook for the remainder of the postseason
after suffering a knee injury in Game 2. However, the Rockets were unable to take
advantage losing 104-101. The Rockets would finally break trough in Game 4,
winning the game 105-103 behind a 27 point effort from Chuck Parsons. The
Rockets would also win Game 5 on the road, 107-100 as James Harden had his best
effort of the postseason with 31 points. With a chance to get the series to a
seventh game, the Rockets comeback would fall just short as Kevin Durant carried
the Thunder to a 103-94 win in Game 6. Following the season, the Rockets would
continue to improve signing All-Star Center Dwight Howard away from the Los
Angeles Lakers, who was the most sought after Free Agent in the off-season.2013/14: Expectations were high in Houston, after the Rockets signed Dwight Howard in the
off-season. Howard would grab 26 rebounds in his Houston debut as the Rockets beat
the Charlotte Bobcats 96-83 at the Toyota Center. The Rockets would soar early,
getting off to a 13-5 start, as Dwight Howard in the middle helped James Harden
and Chandler Parsons get more open shots. James Harden would be a first team
All-Star with 26.8 points, 5.8 assists, 4.7 rebounds and 2.0 steals per game.
Benefiting most from Howard's presence was Chandler Parsons, who had the best
season of his career with career highs in points (16.6 ppg), rebound (5.6 rpg)
and assists (4.0 apg). While Dwight Howard himself was among the NBA's top rebounders
with 12.2 boards per game along with 18.3 points per game. However, if
Dwight Howard had a flaw it was his troubles at the foul line, shooting .547 from
the charity stripe. Dwight Howard's troubles at the free throw line, would
lead teams to hack a Howard, forcing the Rockets to take him off court in key moments
during the game. December would be the roughest month for the Rockets as
they split 16 games, and entered the New Year with a record of 21-13. The Rockets
would surge into 2014, winning eight of their first ten games in January. The
Rockets would be similarly strong in February and March, as they seized the
fourth spot in the Western Conference Playoffs with a record of 54-28.
2014 Playoffs: In the postseason the Rockets would face the Portland Trail Blazers in the first
round. The Blazers finished with a similar 54-28 record, but the Rockets got home
court by winning three of four regular season meetings. The Rockets looked to
be on the way to a win in Game 1, as they held an 11 point lead with 4:30 left
in the fourth quarter. However, with the team struggling at the free throw line,
the Rockets could not close out the game as LaMarcus Aldridge forced overtime
with a three pointer at the buzzer. The Rockets would score the first six points
in OT, but again sputtered as the Blazers went on an 8-0 run, and would win
the game 122-120 as Aldridge scored 46 points with 18 rebounds. LaMarcus Aldridge
would score 43 points in Game 2 as the Blazers won 112-105 to take a 2-0 series
lead to Portland. Facing desperation, the Rockets again saw a late lead slip
away as Nicholas Batum forced overtime with a three pointer with 41 seconds
left. However, with Troy Daniels coming off the bench and hitting a big three
point bomb the Rockets kept their hopes alive with a 121-116 win. Game 4 would
also go to overtime, as Dwight Howard tied the game with a power dunk with three
seconds left. This time the Trail Blazers would get the game powered by a 9-2
run in overtime, to win by a score of 123-120. Back in Houston for Game 5, the
Rockets would put up their best game of the series, limiting LaMarcus Aldridge
to eight points, winning the game 108-98. With James Harden scoring 34 points
and Chandler Parsons put back with 0.9 seconds left the Rockets appeared to be
heading for a seventh game up 98-96. However, Damian Lillard was able to get off
a three point prayer to end the series and end the Rockets season with a 99-98
win for the Trail Blazers. 2014/15: After a heartbreaking first round exit, the Houston Rockets blasted off at the start
of the season, winning their first six games, and nine of their first ten games.
A big reason for the Rockets early success was the play of James Harden who
continued to develop into one of the best shooters in the game. Not satisfied
with their good start, the Rockets added veteran depth in December, trading for
Corey Brewer and Josh Smith. Both moves had a positive impact on the Rockets
as Brewer averaged 11.9 points per game in 56 games, while Smith had 12 points
per game in 55 games with the Rockets. As the Rockets went into the New Year with
a record of 22-9 James Harden continued to rank among the leaders in scoring,
raising his career best efforts several times during the season, scoring 40
or more points on ten occasions. James Harden would finish the season second in
MVP voting, averaging career highs with 27.4 points per game, assists with 7.0
per game and rebounds with 5.7 per game. In a very competitive Western Conference,
the Rockets would be among four teams battling right down to the end of the
season for the second overall seed. Despite losing a home and home with the San
Antonio Spurs in the final week of the regular season the Rockets managed to
grab that second seed, winning their final three games to beat out the Spurs by
one game with a record of 56-26. Besides Harden, the Rockets got a big year from
Dwight Howard who averaged a double-double, with 15.8 points and 10.5 rebounds
per game. Donatas Motiej?nas had a breakout season for the Rockets, averaging
12.0 points and 5.9 boards per game.
2015 Playoffs: In the postseasons the Rockets would face the Dallas Mavericks in an all Texas battle.
The Rockets would claim the opener by a score of 118-108, as James Harden
led the way with 24 points and 11 assists. In Game 2 it was Dwight Howard leading
the way with a game high 28 points and 12 boards as the Rockets took a 2-0
series lead with a 111-99 win. As the series shifted north to Dallas, the Rockets
continued to keep control, winning 130-128 with James Harden scoring 42 and
Dwight Howard dominating the glass with 28 rebounds. The Mavericks would win Game
4 by a score of 121-109 to avoid a sweep. Back in Houston for Game 5, the Rockets
would reach the second round for the first time in six years, winning 103-94
as Harden again starred with 28 points, while Howard had 19 rebounds. Things
would not be as easy in the second round as the Rockets dropped the opener against
the Los Angeles Clippers at Toyota Center 117-101. The Rockets would rebound
to win Game 2, with Harden scoring 32 points 115-109. However, the Clippers
continued to lead the way, winning the next two games in Los Angeles to take a
3-1 series lead. The Rockets would keep hope alive, with a 124-103 win in Game
5. At the Staples Center in Game 6 it appeared as if time was going to run out
on the Rockets, as the Clippers were in full control late in the third quarter
up 87-68. However, the Rockets began fighting back score the final nine points
in the third, to cut the deficit to 13 points. The charge continued into the fourth
quarter as they blasted past the Clippers with 40 points to turn a 19-point
deficit into 119-107 win, highlighted by a 23-2 run in the fourth. Leading the
way in the Rockets comeback was Corey Brewer who scored 15 of his 19 points
in the fourth quarter, with Josh Smith adding 14 points in the decisive final 12
minutes. Meanwhile Dwight Howard was a beast on the boards, scoring 20 points
with 21 rebounds. The series would go to a seventh game in Houston where James
Harden took over scoring a game high 31 points, to lead the Rockets to a 113-100
win to complete the comeback from a 3-1 deficit. The Rockets in the Western
Conference Finals for the first time since 1997 would face the Golden State Warriors.
Just like the MVP race saw Stephen Curry beat out James Harden, Game 1 would
see Curry beat out Harden in Game 1 leading the Warriors to a 110-106 win.
Harden would answer back in Game 2 scoring a game high 38 points, but with the
game on the line he was trapped on the end line unable to get off a shot, with
the Warriors holding on to a 99-98 win. Things did not get better in Game 3 in
Houston as the Warriors won 115-80. Avoiding a sweep would see James Harden set
a new career playoff high with 45 points as the Rockets won 128-115. In Game
5 Harden, would set a record of dubious distinction committing 12 turnovers as
the Warriors won 104-90 on the way to winning a NBA Championship. 2015/16: After reaching the Western Conference Finals the Houston Rockets looked to take it
another step further. However, early on the Rockets sputtered posting a record
of 4-7 in their first 11 games, when management decided a change was needed and
fired Coach Kevin McHale. The Rockets would be led by J.B. Bickerstaff for the
remainder of the season. The Rockets would respond to the coaching change by
outlasting the Portland Trail Blazers in overtime 108-103, as James Harden scored
45 points, while Dwight Howard pounded the boards with 19 rebounds. However,
the same problems they had under McHale continue to persist as the Rockets lost
their next three games, and ended November with a record of 7-11. The Rockets
would play better in December, and briefly peeked over .500, but ended the month
losing four of five, and began January at 16-18. The Rockets would spend the
entire season going up and down the .500 mark, as they ended the year with a
record of 41-41. Despite their prolonged mediocrity the Rockets slipped into the
playoffs as the eight seed in the Western Conference. Once again James Harden
ranked among the top scorers in the NBA, as he finished second to Stephen Curry
with a career best 29.0 points per game. Harden also posted career highs with
7.5 assists and 6.1 rebounds per game. However, not all stats were great for James
Harden as he tied a NBA single season record with 366 turnovers. Meanwhile
it was a disappointing season for Dwight Howard, who had the lowest scoring output
since his rookie season with 13.7 ppg.2016 NBA Playoffs: The Houston Rockets had the odds stacked high against them as they faced the Golden
State Warriors coming off a record breaking 73-9 season. In the playoff opener,
the Rockets were never in the game, losing 104-78. Despite playing without
Stephen Curry in Game 2, the Warriors again had no problem beating the Rockets
115-104. As the series shifted to Houston, the Rockets got a big effort from James
Harden who had a game high 35 points, including the game winning shot with
2.7 seconds left to win 97-96. Curry returned and was re-injured in Game 4, but
the Rockets again were blown off the floor, losing 121-94. The Warriors would
go on to win the series in five games, beating the Rockets 114-81 in the finale.